The owners of this silver-hulled sloop, Bill Buckley and Charles Brown, also believe they have built the fastest Maxi afloat and are planning to prove it when they toe the line with the present recordholder, the 141-foot ketch Mari Cha IV, Maiden Hong Kong, and a fleet of other maxis in this month's Rolex Transatlantic Challenge from New York to England. Designed by Clay Oliver and Greg Elliott, who were also part of the Mari Cha IV design team, Maximus has a low-drag rotating wing mast and canting keel.

Cookson Boats in Auckland built the boat in composites. Its overall length was determined in part by the 100-foot length restriction of the annual Sydney Hobart Race. Its hull shape features a relatively narrow waterline beam and a lot of outward flare up to the deck. Although the displacement is a well-guarded secret, reportedly Maximus is very light for its size and has a very high righting moment. As many as 18 crew will be aboard for racing around the buoys, but only 14 or so will crew the transatlantic event. The boat and crew made their racing debut at Antigua Race Week before heading to New York. www.supermaxi.co.nz   Charles Mason